The Locker Room September 29, 2004

Hello again Cougar Fans, and welcome back to another week with cougarfootball.net!!! 

I'd like to start this week off by again taking a look back at last weeks game. To begin with let's look at what a win over AAA Division 6 Franklin County means to the Cougars overall. First, this was a big win in terms of power points. Should the Cougars continue on their winning ways, and if this group of seniors take this team to the playoffs, a win over Franklin County could give us a much needed edge in terms of power points when it comes to determining stuff like seedings and home field advantage and all that. The Eagles will win games this year, and Pulaski County will benefit from each and every one of them. Second, lets look at how Pulaski won this game. The Cougars had several key players down and out for the night. When you have a starting linebacker out sick, a starting lineman out sick, and then you have a player who starts on both sides of the ball dislocate a shoulder during the first half, its easy to let down and make mistakes that can cost you the game. Pulaski County did not do that. They took the next man in line, put him on the field, and the machine kept on going. And when you have a player like #45Cab Cabaniss step in and play like he did, that shows your team has heart. But when he, your second man in line goes down with a banged up knee, what do you do? You just go put the next man in line on the chart in, and once again the machine keeps on grinding! That's what the Cougars did this past Saturday night. Players who normally don't see a lot of playing time came into the game, and they played with heart and determination. My friends, I stand by what I said last week......Cougar Football is back again!!! 

Congratulations on a great win, and now lets take a look at what's on the agenda for this week. 

Pulaski County will travel to Lynchburg to face the E.C. Glass Hilltoppers. Glass leads this series 8 games to 4, with one tie. Glass brings a 2-2 record into the contest with wins over Brookville and Heritage, and losses to Amherst and Jefferson Forest. Those losses were by a touchdown a piece, and those losses were to two very good teams. E.C. Glass is another AAA Division 6 school, like Franklin County last week. As much as a person could say to build up this matchup, I think the easiest way to do it is by putting it in the most simple terms we can: 

If Pulaski County had beaten E.C. Glass last year, they may have made the playoffs.

E.C. Glass cost Pulaski County a chance to get into post season play last year.

I don't really know if anything else needs to be said about that? Can I say anything else that might motivate or inspire a team or a player to get up for a game? For any of the players who read this, the team you are playing this week is the one that caused you to turn in your equipment after 10 games last year. I've watched you in practice, I've watched you in scrimmages, and now we've watched you play against four quality opponents, and any or all of them were good enough to beat you. They didn't though, and you didn't beat yourself either. You all know what has to be done, and you all know you have the strength, the speed, and the skill to do it. Go out to Lynchburg this Friday, and bring home that fifth win of the season. The fans will be there. Your classmates will be there. Go out and show Glass what Pulaski County Pride is all about!! 

Until Friday, get ready to be loud, and get ready to yell!! 

GO COUGARS!!BEAT THE HILLTOPPERS!!!!!

Friday, October 1 - E. C. Glass Hilltoppers (Away):

Series: E.C. Glass leads 8-4-1.
Streaks: The Hilltoppers took last year's meeting, after the Cougars had won two in a row in the series. PC lost 4 in a row from 1994-1995, including a pair of Region Finals. The teams alternated wins from 1990-1993. Glass won 1 and tied 1 in the first 2 games of the series, the tie coming in PC's first year, 1974. The road team, which has for some reason clearly dominated in this matchup, won 5 in a row from 1990-1994. 
Biggest Cougar Winning Margin: 21, 1993 (35-14)
Biggest Cougar Losing Margin: -32, 1995 (3-35)
Closest Game: 1974 Cougars 8, Hilltoppers 8
Average Score: Hilltoppers 20, Cougars 15
Last Meeting: 2003 at PC.  Result: E. C. Glass 20-12. This game started a somewhat disappointing end to what looked to be a promising season for PC. 
 

	Overall Record	Gilliam Rating
Pulaski County Cougars	4-0	75.71
E.C. Glass Hilltoppers	2-2	65.71

Region III District Standings
Unofficial VHSL Ratings
2004 Cougar Team Statistics
2004 Cougar Individual Statistics
 

Last Week's Game:

Lightning Strikes Franklin

Game Photos

Box Score

Crouse, Cougars sprint by old rivals

Southwest Times Sports Page (Bookmark this link, or at least the Southwest Times Home Page, and check as early as every Sunday after the game. The stories disappear quickly!)
 
 

Around the District Last Week:

Spartans hammer Northside

Demons run wild vs. Cavs

Hancock carries Rockets (scroll for Hidden Valley - Tunstall)
 
 

The DOMINATION FACTOR		2004
2004	COUGARS	Opponent
Season Average	124.52	71.48
Northside 35-0	140.67	55.33
William Fleming 20-19	100.63	95.37
Patrick Henry 28-20	126.30	69.70
Franklin County 33-14	130.49	65.51
E. C. Glass	xxxx	xxxx
Hidden Valley	xxxx	xxxx
Blacksburg	xxxx	xxxx
Christiansburg	xxxx	xxxx
Cave Spring	xxxx	xxxx
Salem	xxxx	xxxx